Living Cost in Santiago

[jcrew2020]

I just want to give everyone an idea of the cost of living in Santiago.

$400 fully furnished apartment in the center of santiago with all bills included. My friend just rented an unfurnished apartment 1 block from the monumento for $215. I spend $25 per week at the supermarket. Dominican lunch (rice, beans, salad and meat) $2.70. I go out maybe 2 times a week. I have a hard time spending $15 on drinking each week and I like to drink. There are cheap bars near the monumento and the university. I travel by publico (cars with 7 people) price 15 pesos (less than $.50) When I first moved here, I love to spend money stupid, now I have adjusted my lifestyle and live like most dominicans.

[prtyr2]

It can certainly be done . . . .well maybe except the 15 bucks in drinking. . . .lol. . .

I have lived very frugally and then a lot less frugally. . . .I prefer the latter but the former was fun as well. . . . .

I don't eat dominican food so a bit tougher for me. I would cook at home, blackened chicken and white rice etc which I love and is cheap. Used to order pasta with garlic and olive oil from a nearby restaurant and it would last 2 days costing like 4 bucks.

I never got into the publico thing but did a ton of walking. I was in la capital and could walk to the colonial zone, malecon, bars, chica spots, casinos etc etc etc.

Even hanging out and drinking at car washes cost more than 15 bucks per month . . . I could have probably done it for 15 per week though. Even recently the GF and I walked to the colonial zone, grabbed some plastic chairs at the san francisco ruins. Drank 3-4 jumbos while watching a great live bnd play son, salsa and marengue. We splurged and took a taxi back. The entire night may have cost 15 bucks. . . . .but no way I could do that 4 times or more in a month for 15 bucks.

Last week we went to La Base to celebrate my bday. Frank Reyes, El Torrito, Tonio and another bachatero. tix were 1k pesos each for the GF and myself. I wanted VIP up front so we had to do a 10k minimum consumption. Bottle of Grey Goose for the novia, a lot of beer for me. . . .she had shrimp and I didn't eat.

Add it up and it is about 340 bucks with taxis. If we also would have eaten dinner out it could have been about 500 bucks. Was last week 300 bucks worth of better enjoyment over the 15 dollar night? no. Would the novia and I have almost as much fun at las ruinas? yep, we go there all the time.

But. . . .it was a bday. There was big name talent playing and we opted for VIP. Otherwise we could have done it all for maybe half and still had fun. Also the novia had never seen Frank reyes, tonio or el torrito so she really enjoyed it. I have seen them all a bunch of times but still dug it.

In STI you can buy a cooler, stick it with cold ones and hang at el monumento all night. Same in la capital on the malecon. The amount of fun is not directly proportional to the amount of money spent.

[princepointe]

This thread can get good. Great info

[prtyr2]

Hmmm. . . .as far as rent goes. . .I have lived in 7 different places over the last 10 years or so:

1- isabelita a block away from Grey's fave hotel. 3000 pesos which was like 200 bucks back in 99

2- got laid off and rented a place in La Moneda after the cabanas on san isidro. 4000 pesos. 2 bedroom, above a colmado in a typical "middle class" residencial. When I moved in the peso was about 20-1 so 200 bucks. . . .but peso devalued to 55 to one or about 80 bucks.

3- ciudad nueva between gazcue and zona colonial. Brand new building. 2 bedroom and balcony. 7k pesos which with the peso 50-1 or so was about 140 bucks. Try explaining to a dominicana that even though we went from paying 4k-7k. . . .which she sees as almost double. . . .I was actually paying less than when we first moved into La Moneda. . .

4-lived at Hotel Residencia in Gazcue for about 7 months. Paid 10,500 pesos for a room on 3rd floor. The crappier rooms but it was decent sized and I dug how there were always characters hanging around residencia. I was living alone but could sit downstairs drinking a beer and always meet someone interesting. Peso was about 30-1 so about 350. Did not have to buy furniture etc. I did get a phone and DSL line and have had that account ever since.

5- moved to a 3 bedroom apt in Gazcue, walking distance from residencia with an ex. She had all the furniture so I didn't need to hassle with that. 20,000 pesos. about 550 with exchange rate plus 2k in maintenance. Contract called for 10% increase each year. Didn't bother me the first year. Was annoyed the 2nd year. 3rd year I said no way. Told the owner if they kept the rent the same I would stay. . .if they wanted to raise it in bad economy. . .I am gone.

6- moved one floor upstairs in same building for 20k pesos. . . .lol. . .and my old place stayed vacant for almost a years and they finally rented it for . . . .yep. . .20k pesos. They could have kept me at 24,200 and not had a year of down time. . . .dumb asses. . . .lol. .

7- just moved to a new place that is twice as big, but the area is not as cool as gazcue. 30,000 pesos rent with maintenance included. 3 bedrooms, plus a studio that can be 4th bedroom, maids room, storage room, kitchen, dining room, living room and terrace. 2 story apt on 8th and 9th floors. Can see the sea from the apt but is not exactly a luxury place.

I have actually thought about moving to STI but there are more flights daily from SDQ than STI and with my travel schedule that is important. STI apartments are much cheaper than SDQ. I have seen apartments similar to what I have now, 2 story "prenthouse" in a nice building for 15-17k pesos in STI. Unfurnished of course.

[Seville]

When I looked in Santiago last year the prices were very good. I looked at a couple of 3 bedroom apts that were brand new. Granite countertops, all mahogany cabinets and built-ins in the bedrooms. Unfurnished for $320 per month. But no beach there and speaking Spanish is a must.

[papi_sosua]

Great thread.

Keep it coming and thanks to all contributors.

[papi_sosua]

I actually like the "spanish speaking is a must". It gets one out of the comfort zone; plus, Santiago (or Santo Domingo) for that matter is, potentially, a lot more happening. Who wants to live among retirees...?

When I looked in Santiago last year the prices were very good. I looked at a couple of 3 bedroom apts that were brand new. Granite countertops, all mahogany cabinets and built-ins in the bedrooms. Unfurnished for $320 per month. But no beach there and speaking Spanish is a must.

[jcrew2020]

I spend $15 per week drinking. $15= 500 pesos. one pequena presidente is 50 pesos so i drink about 10 beers a week.

I had 2 clients rent apartment in santiago this month:

The first guy is older and retired. He rented an unfurnished apartment one block from the monumento for 8,000 pesos. He has a dominican girlfriend who cooks and takes care of the house. He spends little to no money each month.

The other guy is young and from NY. He rented a nice 3 bedroom furnished in Los Jardines in a torre for $1,400 per month. He rented a nice SUV for 1,200 pesos per day. Eats at nice restaurants every day, Pulls the the Hottest girls from clubs, takes weekend trips to the Beach.

2 different guys and 2 different lifestyle. When I moved here, I was a stupid gringo that wanted the Hottest Girl that I could find. I was always in VIP and eating at nice restaurant. After a few years here, I finally meet a nice girl, who brought me back to earth.

[The Sage]

Jcrew, what's different about your life now? Is it simply you're saving money or has the quality of your life improved. If you hadn't found a girl what impact would your current mode of living have on your interaction with the ladies? Would you have less, more, or just different opportunities?

[Hoseman]

Jcrew, what's different about your life now? Is it simply you're saving money or has the quality of your life improved. If you hadn't found a girl what impact would your current mode of living have on your interaction with the ladies? Would you have less, more, or just different opportunities?

I was thinking the same thing you know we talked about that.I am in the phase now.

[Seville]

I was thinking the same thing you know we talked about that.I am in the phase now.

I know we have talked about that also. You were telling me that, living here, the party on Pedro gets old after a while. Just takes longer for some than others

[hughgrection]

What would be a nice apt furnished cost in the Sosua Puerto Plata area?

[Hoseman]

I know we have talked about that also. You were telling me that, living here, the party on Pedro gets old after a while. Just takes longer for some than others

Yeah when you work for such a long time and raise a family you kind of feel entitled to it. But it gets old. A woman and some strange stuff once or twice a week would not be bad and probably a lot cheaper.

[Mr Hillbilly]

What would be a nice apt furnished cost in the Sosua Puerto Plata area?

My friend stays here top floor 2 bedroom up the hill from Sosua- Las Canas

I guess it was AI that went broke-- he pays 800us per month

I thought it was high for rent

http://www.lascanas.net/rentals.html

[Hoseman]

What would be a nice apt furnished cost in the Sosua Puerto Plata area?

I don't know about furnished in pp but my boy pays 500.00 us 1 block of the Malecon for a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom Apt. with Ocean and Moutain view. I pay probaly too muck for my studio in Sosua but it is convienent included is maid service twice a week and internet,cable and laundy once a week plus no elect always power.

[jcrew2020]

Its hard to explain. When I moved here, I had wanted to keep living like an american. I would eat out all the time, go out drinking and basically spend a lot of money, similiar to how I lived in the US. Then, the more I was around Dominicans, I learned that I could have just as much fun and spend less money.

[jcrew2020]

When I moved here, I had a few rules: never date anyone who lives in puerto plata, sosua or cabarete ( they are not all working girls, but most of them are, so why take the chance) no girls with kids ( too many girls without kids) I prefer to date girls that speak english and are educated. I dated a lot of high maint. girls when I moved here (doctors and lawyers). Now, i finally found something in the middle and I am happy. Look, most dominican guys have a wife at home that loves them and takes care of everything ( si papi te amo mucho) and then they go to the cabana with some young hot girl and have fun. the best of both worlds.

[hugrad95a]

So it sounds like from this thread you can live a decent life on $1000-1500 a month without going hungry.

[swiggy]

I know we have talked about that also. You were telling me that, living here, the party on Pedro gets old after a while. Just takes longer for some than others

There are guys that live there that I see EVERY time I am in the disco, for years. I don't know how they do it. I have to take a break after a few days.

[Seville]

So it sounds like from this thread you can live a decent life on $1000-1500 a month without going hungry.

In Santiago I think you could live on $1200 a month if you live a low maintainance lifestyle. But so much depends on individual spending habits and comfort level. I would want at least $1500 for Sosua / Cabarete area.